User Guide > Import > Importing AI and PDF Files

Importing AI and PDF Files

You can import AI and PDF files into Toon Boom Animate, it will convert your files to the Toon Boom format (TVG) and create a colour palette based on the colour settings of the original file.

Only Legacy versions of Adobe Illustrator are supported. SWF's exported, including Actionscript 2 and Actionscript 3, cannot be imported.

To import an AI or PDF file:

Go to the Library view andright-click on the Stage Library folder. Choose Right to Modify to unlock the library folder. Make sure the Lock icon disappears from the folder to unlock it, otherwise your library will remain locked and not editable.

The option to import will not be available until this step is completed successfully

For more information about the Library, see the Library chapter.
1. In the top menu, select File > Import > SWF, Illustrator Files to Library. Orright-click on any unlocked folder and select Import Fi les.

The browser window opens.

2. Find and select your AI file in the Import Files dialog box and click on Open.

The Rename dialog box opens.

3. Enter a name for the new template or keep the name of the original AI or PDF file.
4. Click OK.
5. Click and drag the new template folder from the Library view to the left side of the Timeline view; wait until the copy cursor appears before releasing the mouse button.

6. The colour recovery dialog box appears, requesting that a colour recovery should occur. Before clicking on the Yes button, you have the option to select the Do Not Ask Again For This Session option. This might be useful if you plan to import multiple AI drawings.

This process will import the colour palette used to create the Illustrator file and create a new palette in Toon Boom Animate under the imported file’s name.

Refer to the Import Preferences section to learn about the Support CMYK in PDF/Illustrator Import preferences.
When importing an Illustrator or PDF file in Toon Boom Animate, by default the file will be imported as separate layers. The import will use the Illustrator file's top level groups as seperate layer names. However, you can change this behaviour by disabling the PDF/Illustrator Import as Separate Layers, to import your file as a single layer. Refer to Import Preferences to learn more.

Related Topics 

Importing and Vectorizing Images
Importing from Adobe Flash
Import Preferences